English 111 - Winter, 2015

Medieval Literature

Class Information

Instructor: Aldebol, Kristen
Time: TR 10:30-11:50
Location: 207 Olson

Description

This course will direct students in intensive study of medieval literature through attention to quest narratives, broadly conceived. How does questing, whether for glory, love, the grail, or spiritual perfection, undergird the literature of this time period? The class will examine a variety of medieval British literatures, including lyric and narrative poetry, visionary texts, dramatic texts, and Arthurian literature. Examining the common threads between these disparate types of medieval literature will help students gain a deeper understanding of the medieval period and recognize its influence on later literatures. The course will place these texts within their historical context, asking students to consider the cultural and historical context in which the texts appeared. There will be two longer papers, two paragraphs, and in-class quizzes.

Texts

The Broadview Anthology of British Literature, Volume 1: The Medieval Period, Joseph Black et. al., eds.